Why Is the Defense So Bad?

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Originally Posted by x626xBlack
Where are you getting Harpers cap hit, and Still owed guaranteed money?
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Roman Harper Contract, Salaries, and Transactions
They list Harper's contract - which he signed last offseason - including $16M in guaranteed money from ...

They list Harper's contract - which he signed last offseason - including $16M in guaranteed money from which the Saints have only paid him $10M at the end of this year.

Naturally, he has been paid more in real life, since the prorated signing bonus was already paid in full to him, so he has been paid $3.5M more, but I do recall them still having to count for that in salary cap penalties if he is cut now.

Anytime the offense gives the ball away most of the time, three and out, or perhaps after a first down or two, and the defense is on the field most of the time, with the team set up as it is, especially against a good team, or quarterback, we're going to get murdered.

When the offense starts performing, you'll see the defense do better also. No defense will be able to compete with this situation, unless they spent all their cap on the D, in which case the offense is likely to be pretty bad. The money is in the "O" at NO, like it or not.

Anytime the offense gives the ball away most of the time, three and out, or perhaps after a first down or two, and the defense is on the field most of the time, with the team set up as it is, especially against a good team, or quarterback, we're going to get murdered.

When the offense starts performing, you'll see the defense do better also. No defense will be able to compete with this situation, unless they spent all their cap on the D, in which case the offense is likely to be pretty bad. The money is in the "O" at NO, like it or not.

True, so true. If even just a couple more of those 3 and outs in each game had been offensive drives that lasted a few plays-- and got a few first downs (not even necessarily scores) and changed field position, took time off the clock etc -- then this defense would not look NEARLY so terribly bad as it is, I guarantee you that. The D would be ranked in the middle or top of the back of the pack, and not dead last, and it would not look nearly so hopeless and anemic as it does now. And the team's record would be different, no question about it.